Lumber unscrambler



Sept. 7, 1965 K. N. MOSELEY 3,204,753

LUMBER UNSCRAMBLER Filed Dec. 7, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR KEMPER N. MOSELEY BY Ma ATTORNEY Sept. 7, 1965 K. N. MOSELEY LUMBER UNSCRAMBLER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 7, 1962 FIG. 3

} Aim) 4 INVENTOR KEMPER N. MOSELEY BY [54%; d w Tr [Z ATTORNEY Se t. 7, 1965 K. N. MOSELEY 3,204,753

LUMBER UNSCRAMBLER Filed Dec. '7, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR KEMPER N. MOSELEY BY Adm/4 Ir Z ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,204,753 LUMBER UNS'CRAMBLER Kemper N. Moseley, 1014 'Gloria Ave., Durham, NC. Filed Dec. 7, 1-962, Ser. No. 243,029 2 Claims. (Cl. *198102) This invention relates to the separating of a small number of articles from a large group-of articles and to apparatus by. which such separation is controlled.

The invention relates particularly to the removing of one or more pieces of lumber from a stack of lumber of random lengths, widths and thicknesses. intermittently from a remote position.

Heretofore lumber in random lengths, widths and thicknesses has been separated manually and placed on a trimmer saw for cutting or trimming to apredetermined length subject to the influence of an operator. Some attempts have been made to separate the stack. of lumber automatically but these attempts have not been successful due to the random sizes of the lumber and'the feed mechanism which could not be synchronized with the trimmer saw or the next operationof the system.

It is an object of the invention to provide a lumber unscrambler which willi separate random size pieces of lumber from a stack and-which can be operated intermittently from a remote position.

Another object ofthe invention is to provide an. unscrambler of simple construction which will separate one or more random size pieces of lumber from a stack and deliver such lumber to the next operation of the system as it is needed;

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawingwherein:

FIG; 1 is a perspective illustrating one application of the invention in a lumber preparation system;

FIG. 2, an enlarged side elevation of the unscrambler;

FIG. 3, a top plan of the device of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4, an enlarged fragmentary section :on the line. A

44 of FIG. *2;

FIG. 5, an enlarged fragmentary perspective of the front of the device; and

FIG. 6, an enlarged fragmentary perspective of the rear of the device.

Briefly stated, the present invention is a lumber unscrambler including a plurality of upright frames in spaced relation to each other and each of such frames has a V-shaped front portion into which a stack of lumber of random sizes is placed. Each of the frames has an endless chain with multiple spaced upright lugs which passes beneath the stack of lumber and separates one or more pieces from the stack. The device is operated intermittently to discharge the separated lumber from the opposite end of the machine.

With continued reference to the drawings, the invention includes a device for intermittently removing one or more pieces of lumber from a stack containing random lengths, widths and thicknesses so that a stack of lumber may be delivered to the machine and individual pieces will be separated from the stack and moved to another portion of the machine for further processing.

The invention comprises a lumber unscrambler 10 which receives a stack of lumber from a lumber deck 11 and separates such lumber into individual pieces for delivery to another machine such as a trimmer saw 12 and after the individual pieces have been cut to size they are passed through a dipping vat 13 and subsequently pass over a drain and tally deck 14 where, if desired, they are placed on a sorter to sort the lumber into individual stacks according to width, length and thickness.

A stack of lumber 15 is placed on the lumber deck 11 which includes a plurality of upright frames 16 each of 3,Zll4,753 Patented Sept. 7, 1965 which has an upper member in the form of a U-shaped channel 17 in which is disposed the upper run of a chain 18. Each of the chains 18 is driven by a sprocket 19 on one end of the lumber deck 11 and such sprockets are mounted on a common shaft 20.

The shaft 20 is adapted to be rotated by a sprocket 21- driven by a chain 22 from a sprocket 23 which in turn is driven by a motor or source of power 24. When a stack of lumber 15 has been placed on one end of the lumber deck the motor 24 will be operated to rotate the shaft 20 and cause the stack of lumber to be transferred: to the opposite end of the lumber deck where it is discharged into the unscrambler unit 10.

The unscrambler ltl includes a plurality of spaced generally parallel upright frames 27 each of which includes a base 28 and a top 29 connected by a plurality of upright posts or braces 3h. The forward end of the base 28' extends outwardly substantially beyond the top 29 and to the forward end'of such base is attached an inclined slide 31 supported by posts 32 at its upper end and a pair of support plates 33 at its opposite or lower end. The upper end of the slide 31 is provided with a forwardly extendingguide member 34having an arcuate end portion 35 which is disposed about a shaft 20 so that any lumber on the lumber deck will be discharged onto the slides 31 and will gravitate downwardly thereon.

An upwardly inclined track 36 is connected to the support plates 33 closely adjacent to the lower endof the slide 31 and the upper end of such track is welded or otherwise attached'tothe forward end of the top 29; The base 28,.the top 29-and the track 36 are all of generally U-shaped channel construction to function as guides for a chain 37.

The chains 3'7- are adapted to be driven by a sprocket 38 mounted on each of the frames 27 at the rear end thereof and such sprockets are mounted on a common shaft 39- so-that all of the chains will be synchronized to move atv the same rate of speed. The shaft 39. is rotated by a sprocket 40'driven by a chain 41 from a driving sprocket 42 mounted on a gear reduction 43 which in turn is ro tated by a motor or source of power 44; The forward portion of each of the frames 27 is provided with an idler sprocket 45 mounted on stub shafts 46 journaled in bearings 47 carried by the support plates 33.

The connection between the slide 31 and the track 36 forms a generally V-shaped depression of a size to accommodate the entire stack of lumber 15 which is discharged thereon from the lumber deck 11. Preferably the inclined track 36 is at a steeper angle than the slide 31 and the angle between such track and slide is greater than so that the major portion of the weight of the stack of lumber will be supported by the slide. Since most of the weight is carried by the slide 31 such weight is not transferred to the motor 44. In order to break up the stack of lumber and remove a small quantity at a time from the stack, the chains 37 are adapted to have upwardly extending spaced lugs 50 which engage one or more pieces of lumber and remove such pieces from the stack and transport the pieces to the opposite end of the unscrambler mechanism.

The top member 29 and track 36 are provided with a slide plate 51 which if desired may be coated with a lubricant such as grease or the like to cause the chain to move more easily and to reduce the coeflicient of friction caused by the weight of the lumber on the chain. The base 28 is provided with an upstanding chain guide and support member 52 which is of sufficient height that the spaced lugs 50 will straddle such support member and be supported by the chain 37 in a position such that the lugs will not engage the base 28.

The shaft 39 which supports the sprockets 38 is journaled in bearings 53 mounted on angle members 54 at tached to the upright posts 30 and supported by braces 55. A plurality of skids 56 are Welded or otherwise attached to the rear end of the frames 27 and extend above the chains 37 to protect the sprockets from the lumber being moved along the top 29 and being discharged from the unscrambler 10. The lumber being discharged falls by gravity onto another machine utilized in the processing of the lumber, such as a trimmer saw 12.

The trimmer saw is controlled by an operator who manually places the lumber delivered by the unscrambler on the conveyor chains of the trimmer and in order to control the rate of delivery of the lumber to the trimmer saws a foot pedal or switch 57 is provided for the operator of the trimmer saws and such foot pedal is connected to the motor 44 to operate the unscrambler mechanism intermittently as the lumber is required by the trimmer saws.

In the operation of the device a stack of lumber of random widths, lengths and thicknesses is placed on the lumber deck 11 and moved therealong until such stack is discharged from the end of the lumber deck when it falls by gravity into the V-shaped front portion of the unscrambler 10. When the motor 44 of the unscrambler is operated, the shaft 39 will be rotated which in turn rotates the sprockets 3S and the chains 37 so that the spaced lugs 50 of such chain will pass under the stack of lumber and remove one or more pieces which are then transferred to the opposite end of the unscrambler where they are discharged onto another machine, such as a trimmer saw 12. The operation of the unscrambler is intermittently controlled by the trimmer saw operator who places the lumber in the trimmer saw for cutting the lumber into predetermined lengths.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes'may be made in the invention without departing I being generally parallel with said base, each frame having an upwardly inclined track at one end leading up to said elongated portion, an endless chain slideably carried by each frame along said upwardly inclined track and said I track and forming a shallow V-shaped depression of a size to accommodate a stack of lumber, skid means at the end of'the elongated portion of the frame remote from said inclined tracks intersecting the path of movement of said lumber and being so oriented as to disengage said lumber from said lugs whereby a stack of lumber of random sizes may be placed on said slide and when said sprockets are operated said chains will remove at least one piece of lumber from said stack.

2. The structure of claim 1 in which said manually controlled means includes a motor, means connecting said motor to said drive sprockets, and a control switch for operating said motor from a remote position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,199,818 10/16 Peck 198-102 1,43 6,295 11/22 Shumaker.

1,898,664 ,2/33 Howe et a1. 19835 2,209,340 7/40 Landry 19834 X 2,659,537 11/53 Keon 19834 X 2,679,919 6/54 De Koning 198-34 2,734,620 2/56 Fischer et al. 198-45 2,839,106 6/58 Mueller 198102 X 3,071,237 1/63 Powell 198-102 X FOREIGN PATENTS 1,021,793 12/57 Germany.

SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, Rrimary Examiner.

WILLIAM B. LA BORDE, Examiner. 

1. A LUMBER UNSCRAMBLER FOR SEPARATING A STACK OF LUMBER OF RANDOM LENGTHS, WIDTHS, AND THICKNESSES COMPRISING A BASE, A PLURALITY OF SPACED PARALLEL FRAMES MOUNTED ON SAID BSE, AN ELONGATED PORTION OF EACH FRAME BEING GENERALLY PARALLEL WITH SAID BASE, EACH FRAME HAVING AN UPWARDLY INCLINED TRACK AT ONE END LEADING UP TO SAID ELONGATED PORTION, AN ENDLESS CHAIN SLIDEABLY CARRIED BY EACH FRAME ALONG SAID UPWARDLY INCLINED TRACK AND SDAID ELONGATED PORTION, EACH CHAIN HAVING MULTIPLE SPACED LUGS PROJECTING ABOVE THE INCLINED TRACK AND ELONGATED FRAME PORTION FOR ENGAGING RANDOM WIDTHS OF LUMBER, DRIVE SPROCKET MEANS FOR EACH CHAIN AT ONE END OF SAID FRAMES AND IDLER SPROCKET MEANS AT EH OPPOSITE END THEREOF, SAID DRIVE SPROCKET MEANS ENGAGING AND DRIVING SAID CHAINS SIMULTANEOUSLY, MANUALLY CONTROLLED MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY DRIVING SAID DRIVE SPROCKET MEANS, A DOWNWARDLY INCLINED SLIDE CONNECTED TO THE LOWER PORTION OF EACH TRACK AND FORMING A SHALLOW V-SHAPED DEPRESSION OF A SIZE TO ACCOMMODATE A STACK OF LUMBER, SKID MEANS AT THE END OF THE ELONGATED PORTION OF THE FRAME REMOTE FROM SAID INCLINED TRACKS INTERSECTING THE PATH OF MOVEMENT OF SAID LUMBER AND BEING SO ORIENTED AS TO MOVESAID LUMBER FROM SAID LUGS WHEREBY A STACK OF LUMBER OF RANDOM SIZES MAY BE PLACED ON SAID SLIDE AND WHEN SAID SPROCKETS ARE OPERATED SAID CHAINS WILL REMOVE AT LEAST ONE PIECE OF LUMBER FROM SAID STACK. 